About — Dasa Silhova Music

What does it take to be a musician in the 21st century?

The 21st century has been of time of constant change. This has meant a lot of things for the music industry. Evolving audiences, changes of venue, and a huge variety of emerging styles have taken the profession by storm.

As musicians we must adapt and learn new ways to help us build sustainable careers. I believe experience and skills in business are not only helpful, but essential to a career in music.

Professional experience

I have 5 years of experience performing and working for arts organizations in the states of Texas and New Mexico, and in Metro Vancouver, Canada.

As an administrator

I am currently the Manager of Performances and Scheduling at the Texas Tech School of Music. Prior to this appointment, I held the positions of House Manager at the Santa Fe Opera, as well as Interim Personnel Manager and Educational Outreach Programs Coordinator at the New Mexico Philharmonic. I also founded and manage the Vancouver Brass Collective, a symphonic brass ensemble committed to building community through quality performance in the greater Vancouver Area.

As a musician

I have performed with the New Mexico Philharmonic and the New Mexico Philharmonic Brass Quintet. While at the University of New Mexico, I was a member of the Sandia Graduate Brass Quintet. I have also performed with an array of brass chamber groups for various church services, holiday celebrations, and community events.

Education and Formal Training

Masters of Music and Graduate Performance Certificate
University of New Mexico

I recently completed a Masters in Music Performance and Graduate Performance Certificate with a minor in Arts Leadership and Business. While at UNM, I held a teaching assistantship and was member of the Sandia Graduate Brass Quintet. I was also awarded distinction on my degree qualifying oral exam.

Masters of Management
UBC Sauder School of Business

I previously earned a Masters degree in Management, covering a wide array of subject areas and allowing me to build strong fundamentals in business. I was awarded a major entrance scholarship upon admittance to this program and completed it during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bachelors of Music
University of British Columbia

I obtained my Bachelors degree in Orchestral Trumpet performance under the tutelage of Professor Larry Knopp, Principal trumpet of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. I completed this degree with the support of numerous competitive grants and scholarships.

Research

I conduct research regarding the availability of music business education across America. I recently completed a quantitative analysis of music business course offerings for students studying music in the United States. This research was supervised by the former director of UNM Arts Leadership and Business, Regina Chavez-Puccetti.

Arts Management Coursework

I have taken additional coursework in arts management to further my knowledge of the arts industry. Notable courses included ‘Arts and Culture Strategy’ at the University of Pennsylvania, and ‘Management of Successful Arts and Cultural Organizations’ at the University of Maryland. Prior to my full-time appointment at the New Mexico Philharmonic, I completed an outreach internship with the organization.